[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/lit/ - Literature

View post   
File: 472 KB, 1600x1318, 1410622362089.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
13022427 No.13022427 [Reply] [Original]

Just finished Mythology by Hamilton and I'm wondering if I can go straight to The Histories by Herodotus. I just don't feel it 100% necessary for me to read the playwrights in full when I just want to dive into Plato and Aristotle.

>> No.13022430

By all means, convince me if otherwise.

>> No.13022502
File: 921 KB, 1410x1010, 1396048265756.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
13022502

>reading Hamilton over Bulfinch

>> No.13022522
File: 586 KB, 200x270, 1543499183896.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
13022522

>>13022427
>Not wanting to read based Homer
Cringe

>> No.13022524

>>13022522
i do, eventually, just not right now.

>> No.13022545

>>13022427
the flowchart gives you a good foundation in history, literature and philosophy. by all means if you're just interested in the philosophy dont feel obliged to follow the entire flowchart. you'll do fine just reading the light blue stuff

>> No.13022550

>>13022427
Just knock out homer in a week you wont regret it. Oedipus plays can easily be read over a weekend. I literally don't go a day without thinking about them. It's going to take a while to get through Plato, an extra week of reading beforehand won't matter.

>> No.13023309

>>13022427
Bump

>> No.13023350

>>13022427
>skipping homer
>not appreciating plays

>> No.13023471

>>13022427
Homer is fantastic and extremely important. He is the foundation of Greek culture. You will not be able to understand the Greeks without him. I would say Hesiod falls into this category as well, but is not quite on the same level.

>> No.13024716

Thanks to everyone, just bought fagles iliad.

>> No.13025013

>>13022427
Just get a short translation of Illiad and Oddysee. I'll recommend the Fagels version. Also, you can skip any book you want. People recommend reading Homer's main works because Plato references them. Feel free to skip around in book order, anon.

>> No.13025064

You don't need to read any of it to get into Plato or Aristotle.

>> No.13025154

>>13022427
Western literature prob peaked 600 b.c. with Homer. Read him. Read a good poetic translation. His prose is nigh divine.

>> No.13025443

>>13025154
>Read a good poetic translation. His prose is nigh divine.
Why do you dumb bastards use words you don't know?

>> No.13026951

>>13022427
Yes you can skip to the histories. Be aware Herodotus does discuss the trojan war at certain points and its good to have a basic understanding of the characters of the iliad
>Paris
>Menelaus
>Helen
>etc.
as Herodotus discusses his thought in relation to the war and his findings in Egypt